Mail handling or transfer apparatus



Feb, 9, 1932o G. w. LANGE 'T AL 1,844,363

MAIL HANDLING 0R TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed March 10, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l fai/caa@ Feb. 9, 1932. Q w, LANGE ET AL 1,844,363

MAIL'HANDLING OR TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed March lO, 1930 3 Shee'bS-Sh'iael 2 Feb 9, 1932., G. w. LANGE ET AL 1,844,363

MAIL HANDLING OR TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed March lO, 1930 5.SheetS-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAV W. LANGE AND GUSTAV M. LANGE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, 'ASSIGNORS T0 THE FOWLER & UNION HORSENAIL COMPANY, OF TONAWANDA, NEW YORK., A COR- PORATION OF CONNECTICUT MAIL HANDLING OR TRANSFER APPARATUS Application led March 10, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in mail handling or transfer apparatus ot the type tor transferring mail between railroad trains, while moving, and wayside stations.

Une ot' its objects is the provision of a simple, compact and rugged apparatus ot this character which will facilitate the handling oit mail between moving trains and stations, which is reliable and etlicient in operation, and whose parts are so organized and ar'anged as to afford the transfer ot llhe inail-bags 'from one point to the other with maximum safety and without liability ot loss ot' mail matter or ot injury to the mail-bags.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the mail handling portion or crane oit the apparatus, which is applied to the car, that it can be compact-ly folded into the car and occupy a minimum of space and which can he swung into and out of the door-opening ot the mail car with comparative ease.

Other features ott the invention reside in certain novel improvements in the construction and arrangement ot parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings l `igure l is a side elevation of the improved apparatus with its parts in operative relation. the car traveling toward the wayside station in readiness to deposit and pick up a mail bag. Figure Q is an enlarged horizontal section taken in the plane of line 2ML. Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3MB, Figure 2. Figure l a transverse vertical section taken in the plane ot line #I-h Figure 3. Figure 5 is a horizontal section of one ot the wayside station mail-bag wings or supports, taken on line 5 5. Figure 4l. Figure 6 is a top plan view. with the cover plate removed, of the companion mail-bag support at the wayside station. Figure 7 is a similar view off the mail-bag wing or support on the car. Fig ure a vertical section taken on line 8.-8,

Serial No. 434,549.

Figure 2. Figure 9 is a fragmentary side view ot the hinged end of the mail-bag wing on the car. Figure 10 is a top plan view, partly in section and similar to the left-hand portion oit Figure 2, but showing the foldable mail-bag support ou the car in a partially retracted or projected position. Figure 11 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of line 11-11, Figure 8. Figure 12 is a detail side view showing the mailbag arm of the car swung out of the way when not in use.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization, this improved apparatus comprises means disposed along the track at a wayside station including collapsible upper and lower mail-delivery and mail receiving arms, and means mounted on the railway car for projection into and out of the doOr-O} Jening thereot` and having inail-bag delivery and receiving elements thereon, whereby as the train travels past the wayside station, a mail bag may be deposited at the station and at the same time one may he picked up.

In its preferred form, the mechanism at the wayside station for receiving and deliv* ering the mail-bags, consists of a hollow post or column 10 adapted to he mounted on a suitable platform disposed along the track and. having slots or openings 11, 12 in its trout and track side, these openings being arranged one above the other and in different vertical. planes, as seen in Figure The upper end ot the column is closed by a suitable cover 13. Mounted at the front side of the column are vertically-swinging, upper and lower Inail-delivery and mail-receiving arms 11i and 15, respectively, which are disposed in vertically-spaced relation to permit the corresponding means on the railway car to pass horizontally between them, and which are spread in a horizontal direction suiiiciently so there will be no interference between the receiving and delivering operations. The upper arm 14 is fulcrumed adjacent its inner end on a horizontal pintle 16 journaled in appropriate bearings 17 positioned within the column at the lower end of the upper slot 11, while the lower arm is fulcrumed on a pintle 18 journaled in bearings 19 likewise disposed within the Column and adjacent the upper end of the lower slot 12.

At its outer end the lower arm 15 has a lateral extension or wing 2O arranged parallel to the track and preferably tapering opposite to the direction of travel of the train for receiving the suspension bail or rack 21 of the mail bag 22, the latter being detachably connected to the bail by snap fasteners 23. Mounted on opposite sides of this wing are horizontally-swinging detents or catch dogs 24 pivoted at 25 and constantly urged to their outward or full line position shown in Figure by a spring 26. The ends of the detents abut against corresponding shoulders 27 formed on the top side of the wings for limiting their outward movement and they terminate adjacent such ends in hoo is 28 with which the ends of the bail 21 are adapted to interlock for preventing forward displacement thereof from the wing. As seen in Figure 5, the end of the arm terminates in a lug or projection 29 disposed opposite the corresponding detent-hook 28 to prevent the bail slipping over the arm while adjacent its inner end said arm has a lateral lug or projection 30 facing the companion detenthook, whereby the latter and said lug 30 together form a closure about the contiguous portion of the bail to prevent its displacement from the arm. After a mail-bag is deposited on this arm from a moving train, it can be readilyb detached -by contracting the detents and slipping the bail od the wing. To protect the detents and associated parts from the weather they `may be covered by a plate 31 of the same contour of the wing 2Q and secured thereto by screws or otherwise.

The companion upper arm 14, to which a mail bag is attached to be picked up by the train, has a lateral wing or extension 32 eX- tending in a direction opposite to that of the wing 20 and has mounted thereon similar spring-pressed contractible detents 33 whose outer edges are conveXly curved to enable the mail-bag to be readily slipped on and oif the wing. These detents are likewise covered, with the exception of their bail-engaging edges, with a cover plate 34 and the latter has a pair of spaced ribs 35 thereon to raise the bail above the surface of said plate and clear of its side edges to aord its free movement thereover as the bail slides off the wing when picked up by the moving train and allow for a slight tilting of the bail, if necessary, relative to the wing.

The upper and lower arm's'l4, 15 are so hung from their respective fulcrums that the upper arm, in its inoperative position, assumes and is normally maintained in an upwardly swung position shown by dotted lines in Figure 4 and when a mail-bag is suspended therefrom to be picked up by the train it automatically assumes and is held in the horizontal position shown by full lines, in said figure. The lower arm 15 normally assumes the horizontal position shown by full lines in Figure 4 ready to receive a mail-bag to be deposited thereon by a passing train, and when a bag is so deposited, said arm is automatically swung to the pendant position shown by dotted lines in said figure. To this end the arms are preferably counterweighted to normally retain them in their respective positions, the upper arm 14 being held in a substantially upright position by a weight housed within the post lO and suspended from a cable 37 attached at its upper end to a sheave-quadrant 38 formed at the inner end of the arm. The lower arm 15 is held in a substantially horizontal position bya weight 39 likewise disposed within the post and suspended from a cable 4() attached at its upper end to a sheave-quadrant 41 formed at the inner end of the arm, the sheave-quadrant having a stop lug 42 thereon which abuts against an upwardly-facing shoulder 43 on the post for limiting the upward-swinging movement of the arm beyond its normal position for receiving a mail-bag from a passing train. The downward-swinging movement of the companion mail-delivery arm 14 is limited by its lower inner side abutting against the bottom edge of the corresponding post-opening 11. A catch 44 pivoted on the front side of the post below the fulcrum of the lower. arm is adapted to interlock with a lug 45 formed on the latter for holding it in its folded or pendant position against the post, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 4. By this arm suspension, the respective arms are automatically collapsible incident to the reception and release of mail-bag loads, the inail-bag to be delivered on to a passing train holding the arm 14 in operative position until picked up by the train, and the mail-bag deposited from the train on to the lower arm 15 acting to swing the latter to its inoperative position and bring it .within easy reach of the mail clerk to remove it therefrom.

The mechanism disposed within the railway car, for delivering and receiving the inail-bags to and from the companion arms 15 and`14 mounted on the post 10 at the wayside station, is preferably constructed as follows Mounted within the mail car 46 adjacent its door-opening 46a is an upright post 47 on which is supported a foldable arm construction adapted to be projected through the door-opening and carrying mail-bag supports disposed to travel in a horizontal plane Cit between the upper and lower arms lll and 15 at the ayside stations. This arnr construction consists of a horizontally-swinging inner .member or section i8 having bifurcated bearing portions '-l9 and 50 at its inner and outer ends, respectively, the inner bearing portions engaging the post et? to revolve thereon. A collar 51 lined on the post between the bifurcated bearings i9 serves to hold the arm-section a6 at the desired height. Disposed between the bifurcated outer bearing portions 56 a l1orizontally-swinging joint member or knuckle 52 fined on an upright shaft 53 journaled in said bearing portions, as seen in Figure S and fulcrumed at 5lon this knuckle is a vertically-swinging arm-section 55 which is held in a horizontal position by a ledge or stop lug 56 projecting forwardly from the lower side of said knuckle. By this construction, the outer armsection has a universal movement, being free to swing in bot-h a vertical and horizontal plane so as to enable it to be coinpactly folded. when not .in use, as well as to effect its contraction suiliciently to pass into and out of the usual narrow door-opening of the inail car.

rit its outer end the arm-section 55 has oppositely-facing lateral extensions or wings 5T', 5S disposed in the saine horizontal plane, the wing 57 converging forwardly or in the direction of travel of the train, as seen in Figure 2, for receiving a mail-bag from the delivery arm lllat the wayside station, and the wing 58 serving to support a mail bag for delivering .it on to the receiving` arm l5 at such station. Mounted on opposite sides of the wing 57 are horizontally-swinging detents or catch dogs 59, similar to the detents on the lower receiving arm l5, which are held yieldingly in their expanded position by a spring 60. Spring-pressed detents or catch dogs 6l, similar to the detents on the upper delivery arm ll, are likewise mounted on the companion wing 58. To protect these (intents and associated parts from the weather, they may be covered by a plate 62. While this structure enables the supporting` bails of the mail bags to be readily slipped on and olf the respective wings, they elfectually pre vent their accidental displacement therefrom.

ln Aits operative, projecting position from the mail c: r, shown in Figur-es l and 2.v it is essential that the foldable arm construction 41S. 52 a ud be riejidl i held against swingl Cl L.

ing horizontally out of place, and to this end simple and effective means are provided for interlocking the jointed parts against displacement relative to each other and to the car-post /l-T, such means being preferably constructed as follows lblounted on the top side of the arm-section lll and journaled in appropriate bearings applied thereto is a horizontal rock shaft having crank-arms 6l adjacent its ends arranged to actu-ate vertically-movable locking pins or bolts 65, 66 guided in corresponding openings in said arm-section and adapted for interlocking engagement with the col lar 5l and knuckle 52, respectively. The locking bolt 65 adapted to register with either one of two circumferentially-spaced recesses 67, 68 formed in the top side of the collar 5l for rigidly holding the arm-section 4:8 in one or the other of two predetermined positions. ln the projected or extended position of the arm structure ready for receiving and delivering inail-bags, shown by full lines in Figures l, 2 and 8 and by dotted lines in Figure 16, the bolt 65 engages the recess 67 which prevents movement of the arm-section about the post 47, while in the retracted or collapsed position of the structure', shown by dotted lines in Figure l() and by dotted lines in Figure 2, the bolt 65 engages the recess 68 in the collar 51, these recesses being so spaced as to afford a movement of the arm structure about the post of over ninety degrees. The companion locking' bolt 66 is adapted to register with either one of two circumferentially-spaeed recesses 69, 7() formed in the top side of the knuckle 52 for rigidly holding the latter and its arm-section in one or the other of two predetermined positions. In the projected position of the arm structure, the bolt 66 engages the recess 69 and in the collapsed position it engages the recess 70, such recesses boing so spaced as to afford a relative movement of the armsections of less than ninety degrees. Cooperating stop lugs 7l and 72 are formed, respectively, on the outer end of the armsection 48 and on the adjoining portion of the knuckle 52 to limit the unfolding action of the arm-sections and assist the locking bolt 66 in resisting accidental displacement of the outer arm-section out of its projected operative position.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the rock shaft 63 may be actuated by a hand lever .73 and a spring 74 applied to thev shaft constantly urges the locking bolts 65, 66 downwardly into latched position. The free ends of the crank arms 64 may be rounded and be free to slide laterally of the bolts during their swinging movement in grooves 7 5 formed in the sides of the bolt-heads. A handle 76 projecting from the outer end of the arm section i8 is preferably provid-ed for conveniently swinging the arin structure into and out of the mail car.

As before stated, this double-arm mounting on the car, which must be of a length to project the mail-receiving and delivering wings a suitable distance beyond the side of the car, permits the same to be suli'ciently :folded or fore-shortened to enable it to pass freely through the comparatively narrow door-opening Allin. To facilitate this folding or tne arm structure as it is swung into and yout of the car, we provide positive and re"- liable means for automatically elfecting the relative folding and unfolding movements of the arm-sections 48 and 55 and for governing such movements at predetermined points in the path of travel of these parts. For this purpose, a tie or Vlink connection is made between the fulcrumor post 47 about which the inner arm-section 48 swings and the fulcrum or shaft 53 about which the knuckle 52 of the outer arm-section 55 swings. Mounted on the car-post to turn thereon is a lever arm 77 and fixed on the shaft 53 to turn therewith is a lever arm 78, the free ends of these lever arms being pivotally connected by a link or tie bar 79. By this construction, as the arm structure is swung into the car from its projected position, this tie connection causes the outer arm-section to be folded inwardly toward the inner arm-section, such outer armsection swinging at a faster rate' of travel about its fulcrum 53 than that of the inner arm-section to permit the former to reach a position to swing clear of the rear edge of the door-opening. In this position of the parts, shown by dotted lines in Figure 2 and by full lines in Figure l0, the locking bolt 66 is in engagement with the knuckle-recess 70, but the companion locking bolt 65 has not as yet interlocked with the collar -5l. However, upon swinging the arm-structure further inwardly to the dotted line position depicted at the upper portions of Figures 2 and 10, the bolt will snap into interlocking engagement with the collar-recess 68, wherein the arm structure assumes a position crosswise of the car and the outer arm section 55 is then swung upwardly about its fulcrum 54 and held in a substantially upright position by a suitable catch 80 attached to a supporting bar 81, whereby the whole structure' is compactly folded and out of the way when not in use, as seen in Figure 12. When it is desired to project the arm structureV out of the car for delivering and receiving mail, the

steps just described for retracting it into the car are merely reversed.

We claim as our invention l. A mail handling apparatus of the character described, comprising an arm for detachably receiving a mail-bag carrier-bail, contractible detents mounted on said arm and with which said bail is adapted to interlock to prevent displacement thereof lengthwise of the arm, and a lug on the latter adjoining one of said detents and forming with the same a closure about the contiguous portion of the bail.

2. A mail handling apparatus of the character described, comprising a support, a sectional arm fulcrumed on said support for movement as a unit in a horizontal plane and the sections of which are fulcrumed to each other to fold and unfold in the same plane,

and mail-bag receiving means applied to the free end of the arm.

3. A mail handling apparatus of the character described, comprising a support, a sectional arm fulcrumed on said support for` means applied to the outer arm-section, and

means for latching the arm-sections in an extended or unfolded position and in a retracted or folded position.

5. A mail handling apparatus lof the character described, comprising a support, a horizontally-swinging arm-structure fulcrumed on said support and consisting of horizontally-foldable sections, mail-bag receiving means applied to the outer arm-section, means for latching the arm-sections in an extended or unfolded position and in a retracted or folded position, and means for automatically governing the folding and unfolding movements of the arm-sections when the arm-structure is swung about said support.

6. In a mail bag transfer apparatus for railway cars, the .combination of a supporting post, a horizontally-swinging arm-structure fulcrumed on said post and consisting of horizontally-foldable sections projectible through the car-opening to an extended voperative position and retractible through said opening to a collapsed inoperative position, mail-bag receiving means applied to the outer end of the arm structure, and means for effecting a relative folding of the arm-sections during the swinging movement of the armstructure through the door-opening. Y

7. In a mail bag transfer apparats for railway cars, the combination of a supporting post, a horizontally-swinging arm-structure fulcrumed on said post and consisting of horizontally-foldable sections proj ectible through the car-opening to an extended operative pcsition and retractible through said opening to a collapsed inoperative position, mail-bag receiving means applied to the outer end of the arm structure, and a link connection between the supporting post and the outer armsection for eectingf a folding of the latter toward its companion inner arm-section as the arm-structure is swung as a unit into and out of the car through its door-opening.

8. In a mail-bag transfer apparatus for railway cars, the combination of a supporting post, a horizontally-swinging arm structure fulcrumed on said post and consisting of horinient with said collar and the adjoinin inner zontally-'toldable sections projeetible through the car-opening; to an extended operative position and retraetible through said opening to a collapsed inoperative position, inail-bagl receiving means applied to the outer end ot the arin--strncture n'ieans 'for effecting a relative folding oi the arm-section during the swinging movement of the arm structure through the door-opening, and latching moans hir loeli.' the arm-structure against movement as a Y t of its projeeted and retracted positions.

9. ln a mail-bag; transiter apparatus for railway Cars, the combination ot a supportinggy post, a horizontally-swinginp; arm structure tulorumed on said post and con .is ting ot' horizon tailystoldable seetions projectible through the car-oprniing to an entr-aided operative position and retractible through said openingn to a collapsed inoperative position, inail-hing,`

receiving means applied to the order end of the arm-striicture, means for eill'ecting a relative folding oit the arm-sections duringl the swinging movement ot the arm-structure through the door-opening', bitching' means for looking* the arm-s 'ruotare against movement as a. unit out et its projected and retracted positions, and latching means tor looking; the arm-elections in their 'folded and unfolded positions.

l0. ln a mail-bagtransiter apparatus tor railway ears, the combination of a supportinr post, a liorizontally-siving' i arin ,strueture ifuleruined on said post and coiuiisting,- o'l liorizontally-'toldable sections projectible through the ear-opening,r to an extended operative position and retractible through said opening` to a rollapsed inoperative position, inail-bag receiving` means applied to the outer end ol" the arin-sirueture, a collar applied to said post and on which the inner end oit the arm-strueture adapted to rest,

and latch bolts applied to the inner aimsection and disposed i'orinterloelr en O'eend ot the outer arm-section, respectively.

ll. ln a inail-bagtranster apijiaratus tor railway lars, the combination ot a supportino' post.` a horizontaliv-swinging arm-structure iiulcrumed on said post and consisting` oli horizontally-oldable sections projectible through the car-oyieningl to an extended operative position and retraetible throng-rh said openinfogl to a collapsed inoperative position,

' inail-bag' receiving; means applied to the outer end ot' the arm-structure, a Collar applied to said post and on which the inner end oli the arm structure is adapted to rest, said collar having a plurality ot' circumferentially-spaced openinggg's therein, and the inner end ot the outer arm-section having sin'lilar openings therein, an actuating` member applied to the inner arm-section, and latch bolts operatively7 connected to said aetnatino,l member and disposed for interlocking engagement With one or another of the corresponding openings in said collar and said inner arm-section, respectively.

12. In a mail bag` transfer apparatus :for railway cars, the combination of a supporting post, a pair of horizontally-foldable arms pivotally joined at their opposing ends, the inner arm being' fulerumed for horizontally swinging movement on said post and the outer arm being' adapted to support a mailbag, the pivot j oiningl said arms being journaled in the inner arm and fixed to the outer arm, and motion transmitting,` means oonnetting said pivot with the supporting` post, whereby the outer arm is toldable relatively to the inner arm as the latter is swung` about said post to brine; the arms to an extended position exterior ot the car or to a retracted position interior of the car.

153. 1n a mail-bagl transfer' apparatus for railway cars, the combination oi a supporting post, a pair of horizontally-'foldable arms pivotally joined at their opposing ends, the inner arm being tulcrumed for horizontally-swinging movement on said post and the out-er arm being;` adapted to support a mail-bag, the pivot joining said arms heilig journaled in the inner arm and fixed to the outer arm, horizontally-movable lever fulcruined on the supporting post, a lever lined on said pivot, and a link pivot-ally connected at its ends to said levers.

14C. ln a inail-bag` transfer apparatus for railway cars, the combination oi a supporting; post, a pair of horizontally-foldable arme pivotally joined at their opposing ends, the inner arm being` fulcrumed for horizontally-swinging1 movement on said post and the outer arm being' adapted to support a mail-bag, the pivot joining said arms being journaled in the inner arm and fixed to the Outer arm, motion transmitting means conneetinfg,` said pivot with the supporting post, whereby the outer arm is foldable relatively to the inner arm as the latter is swung' about said post to brina' the arms to an extended position exterior of the car or to a retracted position interior of the car, and means for latching said arms in a predetermined position relative to each other and in their eX- tended and retracted positions, respectively.

l5. ln a mail bag' transfer apparatus for railway cars, the combination of a supporting` post having a collar thereon, a horizontally-swinging arm structure fulorumed on said post above its Collar and consisting of an inner arm-section mounted on the latter, a knuckle member lulerumed at the outer end ot said arm-section for movement in a horizontal plane, and an outer arm-section adapted to support a mail-hap; and tulcrumed on said knuckle member for vertically-swinginp; movement, a rook shaft journaled on the inner arm-section, and latch bolts guided in the opposite ends of the latter and operatively connected to said rock shaft, one of said bolts being disposed to interlock With the post-collar to hold the arm-structure in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions, and the other of said bolts being disposed to interlock with the knuckle member to hold the latter in any one of a plurality o positions relative to said inner arm-section.

GUSTAV W. LANGE. GUSTAV M. LANGE. 

